Changes to NY's medical marijuana program being considered

Nassau County will get two new medical marijuana dispensaries within the coming year.
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Medical marijuana could be sold in lotions, patches and as chewable tablets under new rules under consideration by the state Health Department.

The new rules will allow doctors to take a two-hour course before becoming a registered provider of medical marijuana, down from the current four-hour course.

The new regulations will also allow prospective patients and practitioners to enter a dispensing facility to speak directly with a representative. Smoking marijuana remains prohibited under the. The changes include having shortened versions of the practitioner's course required to certify patients for medical marijuana.

The New York State Department of Health is conducting its own investigation into the matter, but would not release information until the probe is complete. That will kick off a 30-day public comment period, after which the Health Department can officially adopt the rules. The five companies already operating were opposed to letting new players in, however, saying the market isn't big enough to divvy up further. Fiorello is building a production facility in Glenville (Hoffnung was a former executive at Fiorello Pharmaceuticals, according to an article in Crain's New York). It also doubles the number of dispensaries that will offer medical marijuana products in NY from 20 to 40.

More changes could be coming to NY state's medical marijuana program. The agency said the number of certified patients has increased 77 percent since the addition of chronic pain as a qualifying condition in March.

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